Their food was flavorful! It was delicious! Nevermind the food hall vibes, you better get in line for Komal! Not only are they Michelin guide restaurant, they are pretty damned good! I can definitely see why they are on the list. Their service is top notch as is their food. At first I thought I would have to stand in the insanely long line there is on the outside, but quickly realized that line was for Holbox. As soon as you find Komal, you can see all the maiz types they incorporate into their food. Maiz = corn. And they prepare the food in front of you. Their agua frescas are also a major plus! We had the following: Flautas de Ayocote Taco Sonia Quesadilla de Flor (Squash Blossoms) Chuchito Agua de Jamaica (hibiscus) I'm definitely going back soon! Oh, and I want to order their masa so I can make some tortillas at home! read more

I got the Huaraches and Tamales. The Huaraches were just OK. The Tamales were very good - learned to appreciate eating them with the pickled vegetables that added a wonderful crunch. However!!! Portions were pretty small for what you are paying for. read more

So we went to try the grasshopper quesadilla. We were so excited to try it!. We had high hopes since they received a michilin shoutout in their guide. But we were disappointed. The service was great and everyone who worked there was great but the food was underwhelming. The grasshopper was crunchy and nutty. Subtle flavor to it. They were however all placed at the bottom of the tortilla not evenly apread out. The tortilla was dry and the cheese inside was burnt. The whole thing was kind of a mess and lacked flavor. I was expecting a more elevated dish especially woth the Michelin shout out. read more

Komal - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Its located in a small market with plenty of seating and there is parking but be sure to scan the QR code and put cars info before you head inside the ticket for not paying for parking is $100 Download the premium parking app or text a code to pay its like $2 for an hour etc. the place is located to the right as soon as you walk in. You order and pay first, grab your number & find any table to sit at and they bring your food to you. I ordered their quesadilla de flor (1) which was mid and barely had any ingredients inside and came out luke warm chuchito tamal (1)which was pretty good a very moist tamale saudero tacos (2) which tasted more like birria but without the sauce also came out luke warm Flautas de ayocote (3) which came in mole sauce stuffed with beans not a fan of mole this was more on the sweet side the lady recommended it for the crunchiness And the taco de costilla (1) this was good bit also came out luke warm like everything else Chuchito and taco de costilla were hittin Im glad i killed my curiousty trying this place out but probably wont come back again read more

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It's a place that I love to go since the day they opened I always go for the same things because their food is great, I get taco Sonia, the quesadilla con flor de calabaza, un chuchito, and I always over order with whatever they have as special, service is great and the ambience it's a party always at Mercado La Paloma read more

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Good food, service good considering it was a Saturday, if you dont mind don't mind overcrowded dining area read more

Wow! Absolute amazed by the food from Komal. I read about this place from the LA Times Best Restaurants list, and it did not disappoint. I loved the large food hall it was in, which was very festive and authentic. Only downside is it is hard to grab a seat, many people go here, it was very packed! The service was super helpful, kind, and made great recommendation. The food was exceptional and the tortillas were the star of the show. I personally loved the skirt steak and crispy potato taco as well as the cheese-stuffed plantains in mole sauce. Everything was a home run, from the food to the service to the ambiance, highly recommend! read more

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Part of a busy food hall near USC. Costilla taco was delicious, definitely pair it with the salsa verde. read more

Komal - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Enjoyed this delicious quesadilla de huitlacoche with suadero along with a nopal con pepino agua fresca. The young woman was very helpful and patient with the people before me, my order was quick, the rest of the staff seem very kind, there's definitely a team spirit. The lid to an agua fell, so they washed it immediately, the area is overall clean and welcoming. read more

Komal - Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Komal is a trendy 5 star restaurant located in the Mercado La Paloma. As soon as you enter, you will see the bright yellow restaurant off to the right against the wall. It is so welcoming and has good energy! The owner is so nice, friendly and personable. The staff is fast and quick! We ordered the following delicious items: 1. Tacos de Suadero (2) slowly cooked really tender brisket topped with onion, cilantro and a side of salsa in a warm blue corn taco shell. Definitely need to eat it hot! 2. Taco de Costilla: a short rib taco with crispy potatoes, carmelized onions and fresh tomatillo salsa. The taco is nicely stuffed with chunks of delicious short rib. The thin crispy fries add a nice crunch! 3. Flor de Calabaza Quesadilla: Squash blossom, sweet corn soffrito, quesillo. This is so pretty and unique! I love the pretty yellow squash blossoms and the sweet corn! Very generous servings that i shared with my husband made me content all afternoon! Definitely need to return and order them again and the rest! Check out the following magazines as she was featured in Bon Apetite, Esquire & Eater! read more

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Komal has had so much hype lately, I don't think you need me to tell you how good it is. ...but I will anyway because that's kinda the point of a review? Get the agua del dia. Both of the ones I had were great, and they were even better mixed together. Tart notes from the Strawberry Hibiscus add some intensity to the super-chill cactus and cucumber. For starters, the Tlacoyos are excellent, beautiful tortillas filled with beans,just a perfect combination with cactus and queso on top. The Molotes de Platano are quite heavy, and I think they'd make a better dessert. The plantains are very sweet, and the mole has the deep chocolate notes. Try to share this one or you'll fill up too fast. The Flor de Calabaza Quesadilla is stunning, in both flavor and presentation. The petals come out like a sunflower, and the corn and cheese inside are amazing. Dip in salsa rojo to add some heat. The tomatillo salsa is the best part of the Taco de Costilla, though every bit of this steak-frites is awesome. The thinly-sliced short rib is impossibly tender and flavorful, and the fries add a lot of texture. The Taco Sonia seems like a lot, but it's the best bite I've had this year, with an impeccable balance and surprising sophistication. If you prefer to stick to something simple, Tacos de Suadero are a sensible choice. The brisket is fatty and drool-worthy. The food is fantastic, but the people are even better. They are so kind and will go the extra mile to make you feel comfortable. People always say you can taste the love in your food, but I don't think I really believed that until I came to Komal. read more

Reallyyyy good tacos. Tortillas are fresh and there's so much flavor . The suadero tacos were my favorite! read more

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My friend and I went to Komal this weekend in South LA - we both loved it! I know Holbok is the long line wait spot rn, but trust, Komal is ahmaaaazing inside Mercado la Paloma, as well. I was pleasantly surprised by the whole vibe. It looked intimidating at first with a full parking lot (we even witnessed a car accident as someone was leaving) and a line for holbok out the door to the parking lot! but, ordering from komal had no wait & we sat outside away from any crowds - it was great. after you order, you take a number and they find you! they bring your food right out to you. Plus they bring it out, as each item is ready so you get things once they are ready. it was awesome! One thing that makes Komal special is they nixtamalize heirloom corn in-house making for an incredible base for many of their items in tortilla form. Komal can actually be called a craft or small batch molino (Mexican corn mill). The shop features ethically sourced heirloom corn from Oaxaca, so you can feel good eating here. One such item based with this is their Squash Blossom Quesadilla, looking all pretty mixed with truly succulent sweet corn that wins in this dish for MVP. Loved this dish & recommended. I highly recommend the molotes de platano (fried plantain balls) that should be eaten as warm as immediately as possible before the cheese in the middle solidifies. Yep, these lovely fried balls have cheese inside and a Oaxacan-style mole on top. The Taco Sonia is one of the most popular item and for good reason, but be warned, this isn't a taco you're going to pick up with your hands. Nu-uh, I tried. You're gonna have to get up to grab a fork, so just grab one from the jump lol. This circles back to that wonderful tortilla, they top it with crumbled loganisa, a dash of grilled beef mashed potatoes and salsa roja. It's a lot. I left feeling satisfied and like I ate fresh, solid eats, ethically sourced, a bit elevated even! I will absolutely be back soon to try more off the menu. read more

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Came here after seeing the long lines at Holbox. Don't take me wrong, Holbox is good but so is this place. Komarm features a variety corn made items that are satisfying and delicious. The made to order food arrives perfectly cooked with the veggies in perfect texture and the cheese nicely melted. The food court is lively with a variety to choose from. This was my second time and I tried the Flor de calabaza quesadilla and the taco Sonia. Both were exceptionally flavorful and my goal is to through the list on the menu before declaring a favorite. read more

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What a nice surprise! Reminds me of Mexico. I tried taco de costilla and the tlacoyos, both 10/10 read more

Komal - Tacos de costilla - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I was literally transported to Mexico with this authentic food! The food is delicious and it tastes as if you are visiting Mexico. read more

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Came for the great reviews and hype, left "un-hyped". I had a flor de calabaza quesadilla, and it was more like a veggie taco with some quesillo. Oaxacan cheese adds a delicious salty flavor to a quesadilla, so I was disappointed when half my "quesadilla" was cheese-less. We ordered mole with tortillas, only the blue corn tortillas were great. That's all. read more

Wow. Some of the best tacos I've ever had!! The tamale was also insane. We stumbled upon this place on accident and we couldn't have been more satisfied! read more

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In the mood for tacos and this was a great choice. The milpa salad was refreshing and delicious. Good food and customer service. Located in Mercado La Paloma. Plenty of parking available. read more

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Went to Komal on a Thursday night about an hour before closing. It was pretty empty, but parking was still tricky since Holbox is in the same space and draws a crowd. Komal was so good, a bit pricier for Mexican food, but totally worth it. Everything tasted fresh and authentic. The taco meat was tender and flavorful, and my favorite was the quesadilla de calabaza!! so good! The only miss for me was the dessert. It wasn't very sweet (I think it was butternut?), and bland like a bread you can find literally anywhere for half the price. the frosting tasted kind of like a diet version. Other than that, I'd definitely come back and order everything again--except the dessert Staff were great at attending us. read more

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We ordered the flautas de papa, chuchito, and tlacoyos. Each one was delicious. You can taste the level of care and intention in every layer of flavor and ingredient. The chuchito was a real stand out, I'm still thinking about it. It's also meaningful to learn about their masa mission, what goes into what they do, and cool seeing the origins and different varieties of corn being highlighted and respected in that way.  Can't wait to come back! read more

Komalito, donde las tortillas están preparadas con manos que llevan tradiciones y sazón dentro del corazón Cada mordida me recuerda a casa, al humo del comal, al cariño de la abuela. Aquí no solo se come se siente. Los sabores cuentan historias y los ingredientes bailan con el alma. Mi restaurante favorito, donde el amor se sirve en cada plato.-love Stephanie read more

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Wow.... Yet another gem in the Mercado Paloma. Don't get me wrong, I love holbox but there's always an hour line (worth the wait IMO) but komal is a fabulous alternative to waiting on line. Great Oaxacan food.... Cooked perfectly. Amazing mole. read more

Komal! Should be called mole heaven. The mole is absolutely delicious. I tried multiple dishes that were scrumptious, savory, sweet, al dente masa, and well balanced in texture and in flavors. My favorite of all had to be the two with mole because their mole is finger-licking good! I tried my best not to lick my fingers since I was eating in public, but had I been at home, I'd leave no trace. Service & ambience were wonderful as well. I love eating among other foodies. read more

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Tried several dishes at Komal and overall had a really solid experience. The tlacoyo was the standout for me. I added carne and absolutely loved it rich, filling, and full of flavor. Next time I'd ask for light nopales, since it was a bit heavy for me, but still really good. The quesadilla de flor was also really good, it was comforting and well-balanced. The pan de elote had great flavor but was a little dry; I feel like I would've enjoyed it more if I had gotten it fresh out of the kitchen. The Taco Sonia wasn't my favorite, but it was still good and I'm glad I tried it. The molotes weren't for me the mole was a bit too sweet for my taste, though I can see how others might enjoy them. Service was friendly and efficient. Everything came out in a reasonable amount of time, and the staff was helpful when ordering. The space has a warm, inviting vibe that feels intentional and comfortable a nice setting whether you're dining in or grabbing food to go. Overall, Komal delivers thoughtful, traditional dishes with care behind them. Definitely worth checking out if you're looking to explore authentic flavors of Mexico, and I'd come back to try more of the menu. read more

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If you get turned off by the long line for Holbox, this is a great alternative if you're craving some tacos and quesadillas. I got the Tacos De Saudero (brisket tacos x2) and added a Flor de Calabaza Quesadilla (squash blossom and corn sofrito). The tacos were super flavorful and the brisket was tender and juicy. I also liked that they mixed it up and gave you one yellow tortilla and one blue tortilla for the tacos. Both tacos were accompanied with a salsa and a lime wedge. As for the quesadilla, it was actually quite tasty despite being vegetarian! I loved the sweetness from the corn and the subtle squash flavor from the squash blossoms. Washed it all down with a Mexican Coke. Definitely give this spot some love and a visit! read more

Komal is a masa/corn focused Mexican food counter at the Mercado La Paloma. The dishes are comforting and delicious. We got the tacos sonia, tlacoyos, squash blossom quesadilla and a weekend exclusive cornbread. They post their weekend specials to their Instagram! We enjoyed all the dishes but our favorite was definitely the squash blossom quesadilla. It was stuffed with lots of corn and cheese and came with a great sauce! The taco sonia was pretty large (check out the lime for scale!) - we paired it with mashed potatoes and it was definitely the most filling part of the meal. read more

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I originally came in to eat at Holbox but while waiting, I saw a Holbox employee eating something that looked delicious and I had to ask her what it was. I ordered it for myself at Komal which was the Tlacoyos dish (comes with 2) which are thick tortillas filled with beans and cactus strips garnished on top. It was just as delicious as it looked. The tortillas was slightly crispy and the cactus added a great touch with both the flavor and difference in texture. It also came with this amazing salsa verde that added a great little kick to it. Also, I learned Holbox and Komal are owned by the same chefs so you can't go wrong with either choice! I suggest getting a few dishes from each place to try out! :) read more

Komal - Tlacoyos - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came with a buddy to grab lunch. Looked over the semi sparse menu but actually liked that cuz it helped in deciding what to get. Staff was nice and helped us decide and also gave us samples of the agua frescas but we decided on a few things. Things to get are the Taco Sonia and the Flor de Calabaza. Both were flavorful and were large portions so both great attributes of any dish. I wouldn't order the Tortilla and Mole, the Tamal, or the Tlacoyo again. These lacked texture, weren't the flavors that I appreciated or didn't pack a punch, and weren't anything super interesting to me. While I enjoyed some things, feels like the rest of the menu is just fine. It's an ok spot but when there are so many other spots in the food court type area, it's hard to advocate to Komal. read more

Newcomer to the Mercado around or a bit before October 2024. They specialize in a menu with ingredients that primarily revolve heirloom corn imported from Oaxaca. As a huge lover of corn and probably almost all things corn I can definitively say I am here for it! This place doesn't have an extensive menu, which is great for me. But it does have enough items to have you coming back to try more. I ordered the tlacoyos, which featured the textures and flavors from their amazing masa and it was presented really well. I also ordered the Taco Sonia with cactus; with the risk of sounding like a rube, this taco reminds me of a another spot that says they serve CDMX style tacos. Again - this was beautifully presented and I was enjoying every bite. I also ordered a refreshing cactus and cucumber agua frescas to wash down my delicious meal. The service is very friendly from the order process to bringing out your food and just the general interactions with the fine folks here. Like all my other visits at the Mercado, they're such a jovial vibe there. Like everyone seems happy to be there. Or maybe I've been lucky with the fellow patrons during my visits. read more

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I really enjoyed this place. I wanted something quick and filling. I didn't feel stuffed after but well fed. I got great customer service and was able to find a table quickly in the hall. Really enjoyed the steak potato and cactus taco. Spent about 60 bucks and got full. read more

Komal - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Anyone who knows me knows I *love* Latin food, so I was excited to try Komal--especially for their blue corn tortillas. Unfortunately, the experience was just okay overall. We started with the **molotes de plátano**, and I was pleasantly surprised. I'm usually not a fan of mole, but this dish was very good. The combination of plantains, cheese, and mole worked really well together--rich, balanced, and flavorful. The **Taco Sonia** was less impressive. It had a lot going on--cactus, mashed potatoes, and other toppings--but the layers of flavor never quite came together. I ended up removing some of the toppings just to enjoy it more simply. The **flor de calabaza** taco was solid. The tortilla was soft and clearly made fresh, and the cheese was noticeably high quality. Overall, I'd give Komal a **3.5 out of 5**. There were some highlights, but it didn't completely win me over. read more

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Oh no. I think I heard about this place from latimes about 2 employees from Holbox that made their own restaurant. I think my favorite would be the tortilla sample where it gives you a bunch of different tortillas. Their tortillas are really good, like 8/10, but I think everything else was mediocre in that I wasn't too impressed by it. The flavors of their dishes just didn't seem to be that good for me, but I would honestly still tell people to try it. Holbox has a ridiculously long line and this is worth a try forsure. read more

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NOTE: Dined in on 11/29/24 Now that Holbox has received a Michelin star (well-deserved, for sure!), I think it's important to acknowledge the rest of the delicious food establishments inside Mercado La Paloma. Komal is one of the newest spots in there, and I've been meaning to try it for quite some time. The tortillas here are the same tortillas used over at Holbox and maybe Chichen Itza (same owner as Holbox), and is the love child of Fatima Juarez (formerly of Holbox) and Conrado Rivera. Okay, so we know the tortillas are going to be full of that wonderful masa that we've come to know and love, but what else? Enter the taco sonia. First of all, I wasn't expecting to see the size of this thing - it takes up a whole plate and the presentation is beautiful (if a bit impractical). There's no way you're going to pick this thing up and eat it like a regular taco. The fillings will end up breaking through the tortilla, which I was a little bummed out about at first. But then I realized that they had given me a fork and knife, so I'm pretty sure you're supposed to eat it using that. Make sure that you have a little bit of everything in one bite - that wonderful tortilla, beef shoulder, pork chorizo that's made in-house, and your choice of mashed potatoes or cactus. I opted for the cactus, because that's what I think of when I think of CDMX-style tacos. It adds a little bit of green, and a changeup in texture since it's got a bit of a crunch to it. The chorizo stole the heart of all of my tastebuds, and I honestly dream about eating more of it now. I savored each little chunk of it I found in that big pile of toppings. It might not look like there's much meat in the photo, but trust me... there's more than enough beef and chorizo in there for you. This is one of my favorite tacos in the entire city, and it's enough on its own as a light meal! I'm excited to try more dishes from Komal, but it's also tempting to order an item or two here, then order items from either Holbox or Chichen Itza. That's the beauty of Mercado La Paloma, though! And I'm particularly thankful that I have a new spot to eat at when Holbox is too crowded. read more

Komal - Taco Sonia with cactus - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This restaurant is inside of a food court. If there's a line, make sure to double check if this is for the right restaurant because my friend and I were standing in the wrong line for 45 minutes for nothing and we ordered our food for pick up. The staff was really busy so even though my bag of food was ready once I was able to sit down outside, the food was cold and I just wish that I would've gotten my food at an earlier time. I will definitely try to come back with my mom to see what she thinks because she absolutely loves grasshoppers and huitlacoche. I was so excited for the quesadilla, because I grew up eating these dishes, but I think that the grasshoppers were extremely salty and I wish that they had more flavor, like garlic for example. In the second quesadilla, I did not taste the huitlacoche. It had like Chile Verde in it that overpowered the flavor so all I tasted was chili Verde and the fresh corn. Huitlacoche is supposed to taste umami and like mushrooms, but I did not get that flavor with this dish and the pieces themselves were very small. What is not pictured is the cactus agua fresca and honestly that was such a treat! I recommend it so much. I bought my friend the taco with costilla and honestly that was very flavorful and hearty- the meat and potato complimented one another really well! When I come back with my mom I'm ordering those tacos and a cactus agua fresca. I also ordered their hand made tortillas, and o can't complain about those, they were delicious! read more

Komal - Quesadilla with huitlacoche and regular corn - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I tried the suadero tacos very good! Full of flavor meat was juicy and the tortillas tased very fresh.The spotlight was the tamal very unique so many flavors must try! Will be back to try more from the menu. read more

Best Tamal I have ever eaten! And the quesadilla de flor de calabaza was great. Maybe in the future I will venture into their more exotic dishes. Loved that I get to try food from southern parts of Mexico so close to DTLA plus the customer service is top notch, even better than fancy restaurants. read more

I ordered a Tacos Sonia and I was a bit confused since it didn't look like what was advertised, but went with it. Turns out I got the weekend special instead which was beef short rib taco with grandma's adobo. It was okay, I wasn't a big fan of the fried rice in the taco. The mole on the meat was very flavorful but I wish I got more unctuous morsels. You can tell the house made corn tortillas are top tier but the filling just didn't match it. I feel guilty for this review and want to give this place another chance. Service was good and didn't take long to get my food. Ambiance is cool as it's in a food hall format where there's plenty of other tasty spots and cool things. Very active and lively. read more

Komal - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We decided to venture to Komal on a Wednesday. It was about 1:30pm and we were able to walk right up to the counter. We ordered the tlacoyos (which comes with an order of two) and a quesadilla of squash blossom. Both were very good and rich in color, texture and flavor. The tlacoyos in particular were hearty and frankly enough for me. I especially love the pillowy soft tortilla on the bottom. We also had an agua fresca, which you can request with or without ice, and was refreshing. Parking can be a challenge given the small parking lot, but there is free street parking nearby. read more

Komal - flor de calabaza quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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LA has stepped up its game with great tasting tortillas. If you've been to Holbox located inside Mercado de Paloma, you've likely had their great tasting tortillas. Behind the scene were Fatima and Coronado hand crafting heirloom grown corn using nixtamal processes into delicious tasting tortillas. We got to meet Corondo while in line for a late lunch before closing. Very friendly and humble, he mentioned his story to us while looking over 60 feet way at Holbox where he and his wife once made tortillas for the Michelin star restaurant. We just had lunch but were driving up the I-110 and recall hearing about Komal Molina via online food writers. So, we decided to go for a quick bite. The line was short. Menu here is quite simple with a handful of offerings. We decided on ordering Taco Sonia and Quesadilla Guisado. Taco Sonia is very good. The beef shoulder is sliced thin, tender and has a great char. It's also mixed with chopped longanisa and cactus and topped with a salsa roja. Great flavors of charred beef, spices and fatty flavors of the chorizo and texture of the cactus + the blue heirloom corn tortillas make this taco top tier delicious. Quesadilla Guisado is pretty good too. It's a bit more simple with pork chorizo and Oaxacan cheese with salsa on the side. Just like anything cheesy, you'll need to eat this one right away so the cheese doesn't lose it's elasticity. Overall, great tasting food. If you're waiting in line at Holbox or waiting for food, it's worth trying Komal Molina. Line was short only 2 deep while Holbox had a line of 20+. Another great addition to Mercado de Paloma. Service here was very kind and friendly. As mentioned, we came close to closing and they were out of Topo Chico. Instead, they comp'd us with bottled water. Parking isn't too bad on the weekends. They do open up the opposite side of the fence where during the week is for DMV customers. read more

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